MONTREAL, Jan 31, 2022 (AFP) - Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Monday that he had tested positive for COVID-19 but was not experiencing severe symptoms.
The 50-year-old leader - who has been vaccinated and boosted - announced last week that he was in isolation after being exposed to the coronavirus.
"This morning, I tested positive for COVID-19. I am feeling fine - and I will continue to work remotely this week following public health guidelines," the premier wrote on Twitter on Monday.
This morning, I tested positive for COVID-19. I’m feeling fine – and I’ll continue to work remotely this week while following public health guidelines. Everyone, please get vaccinated and get boosted.
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) January 31, 2022
Trudeau, who received his third vaccine dose in January, urged Canadians to get vaccinated and promoted as the nation grapples with a surge in COVID cases and hospitalizations due to the Omicron version.
The province of Ontario, where Trudeau lives in Canada's capital, Ottawa, requires people to isolate without vaccination for 10 days after COVID exposure.
Ontario, Canada's most populous province, is expected to ease COVID restrictions from Monday, allowing restaurants, bars, sports venues and movie theaters to reopen.
Canada has recorded more than 2.9 million cases of COVID-19 and more than 33,000 deaths since the start of the pandemic.
Ottawa was hit over the weekend by mass protests led by Canadian truckers protesting the vaccine mandate to cross the Canada-US border.
Trudeau defended the vaccination mandate last week, noting that 90 percent of drivers have already been vaccinated.